Scenic Hotels in Colombo

"The hotel's location is excellent, with a supermarket nearby. Getting to various attractions by tuk-tuk is very convenient. The hotel's decor is simple and bright. The hotel breakfast is actually quite good; I hadn't booked it because some guests said it wasn't great, but upon arrival, I found it to be pretty decent. We ended up buying two breakfasts on the spot. The variety of breakfast items is about average."

"We feel welcome upon check in. The room is very clean and very spacious. The reception staff help attend to all our queries promptly and assist us with our transport arrangement. Also help us with our luggages to and fro our room and to our car. Bed is comfortable, aircon is cold and hot shower is good. Room has WiFi and TV. Hot water for coffee and tea are located in the kitchen area . Free water from the water dispenser in the kitchen There is central ironing available outside the rooms for sharing. Washroom is very spacious, modern and well maintained with wet and dry area. Toilet roll, towels, Shower gel, hand soap and shampoo are provided. Breakfast is simple buffet with cereals with milk, toast with butter and jam, fruits, omelette with chicken sausage, coffee, tea and juice. The location is next to the main road at the outskirts of the city but is near many shops and a small train station. Overall very comfortable nice rest and breakfast with great staff. Great hospitality"

"I chose the newly opened Amari Hotel (Amari Colombo) for my first two nights in Colombo, drawn by its reputation for sea views. The sea view from the room and the rooftop infinity pool were huge plusses, and the service was good, but there were quite a few flaws. I stayed in a Deluxe Sea View King Room on the 16th floor. The room's large floor-to-ceiling windows directly faced the sea, offering a great view and easy sunset watching. Unfortunately, the popular Grabbell Hotel partially obstructed the view to the left, making the angle for admiring the sea from bed not ideal. The room itself was very new, but the design had numerous illogical aspects: ① The 'king' bed was actually two single beds pushed together, with a gap in the middle, making it very uncomfortable to sleep on. ② The bathroom wasn't a 'three-fixture separation' (toilet, shower, sink in separate areas), and opening the bathroom door completely blocked the toilet, leading to poor circulation and accessibility. ③ After the main light switch was turned off for a period, the power outlets also shut off, preventing phone charging. If the main switch wasn't turned off, some lights couldn't be switched off individually. ④ The curtains required pulling cords on both sides to operate, and there was no corresponding instruction in the room. I only discovered this after struggling to pull the curtains for a long time. I was quite surprised to find such design flaws in a hotel that had been open for two years. The hotel service attitude was generally good. Checking in at 1:30 AM, the concierge was still on duty, helping with luggage from the car and later delivering it to the room. The front desk staff were also very friendly, and I didn't experience any discrimination. The rooftop infinity pool on the 26th floor also directly faces the sea. The pool isn't large or deep, but it's sufficient for leisure. There's also a bar by the pool, offering panoramic views of most of Colombo, with particularly stunning scenery at dusk. Breakfast, located on the 5th floor, featured strong local characteristics, with an array of various curries spread across the buffet. Opinions were sharply divided; my wife loved it, while I couldn't get used to it at all. Overall, to fully enjoy this hotel, you need to book a sea-view room and comfortably watch the sunset from your room or the rooftop pool. Otherwise, it's just a slightly flawed, but generally acceptable, four-star hotel."

"I had a fantastic stay at the Marino Beach Colombo Hotel, and I’d happily recommend it to anyone visiting Colombo. The energy of the hotel matches the city in the best way—there’s a lively, enjoyable atmosphere that makes the whole experience feel fun and memorable. One highlight for me was the great view from the hotel. It really adds to the overall vibe and makes it feel special, even when you’re just stepping out to take a moment. I’d highly recommend booking a room with a balcony. As a mature solo traveller, that private outdoor space made a big difference—especially in a city that can be hot and busy. Even when the day is energetic, the balcony offers that easy, tranquil respite you need to recharge. And the rooftop infinity pool? Absolutely wonderful—great views, a fantastic atmosphere, and a calm break from the city buzz. I also need to make special mention to Upendra. The entire reception/concierge service was brilliant, but Upendra’s attention to detail truly stood out. He supported me with my eSIM and helped with my transport needs, and I genuinely felt valued and cared for—like I was a beloved auntie. It’s exactly what I appreciate from young, enthusiastic staff. Finally, I have to mention the beach club. It was a great experience—and thanks to the life guard, I even got to enjoy a “tethered” swim in the sea. (And yes—at almost 6 feet tall, tethering this Viking shield Maiden really isn’t as fun as it sounds 😄😂) Thank you again, Upendra—and thank you to the Marino Beach Colombo Hotel team."

"This hotel is truly unique, steeped in history, and they do a wonderful job of preserving its century-old heritage while still embracing the 21st century. Everything is excellent, the staff are friendly and respectful, really valuing old-school service traditions. There's even a museum showcasing famous past guests like Anton Chekhov and Yuri Gagarin. The 20-meter saltwater pool, right on the Indian Ocean, is simply fantastic for relaxing when the sea is rough. As I mentioned, the rooms are styled from the 1960s-70s, and you even get the charming creak of the floors and stairs. The hotel team clearly puts a lot of effort into maintaining the property against the forces of time and the ocean's weather. The dining experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a story in itself. You can explore not just local cuisine, but dishes from across South Asia. The chefs and restaurant staff really strive to make your stay here an enriching culinary journey into local culture and traditions. If it's your first time in Sri Lanka, I highly recommend this hotel for your initial introduction to the country. Despite the cost, it offers great value, especially considering its convenient location near Colombo's main attractions."

"Stayed in room 56. First the bad, shower rose looks like it has been dropped causing it to crack on the side and the result is the water does not flow properly. The average, food at the onsite restaurant is very slow to be served up, even with just a couple of people. The coffee was ok and it was being made by a trainee, with what appeared to be no direct supervision and he was very slow. A tiny piece of tin foil was served up on a piece of chicken. Staff preparing food need to wear a hair net. The good, AC worked well, bed comfortable and linen and towels were fine. Small grocery store close by, which was helpful. Points to note, no fridge in the room and no kettle. Note to management. Given that the room is small the selection of furniture leaves a lot to be desired. A chunky chair and a fold up camp style chair, took up a lot of room and personally a bench that could hold an opened out suitcase would be more helpful. The wardrobe is also a wasted space and a wall hanging rack would be better suited."

"The rooms were very clean and spacious, and there's a pool too. Everyone was very professional and greeted us with a smile. The doorman's smile was particularly lovely. We had a late-night flight, but we were able to use the hotel's shower after sightseeing before heading to the airport, which was truly a lifesaver."

"This stay was special to me because I had the opportunity to contribute to this beautiful project as part of the interior design team. Seeing the space come to life and experiencing it as a guest was truly rewarding. The rooms were comfortable, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff provided excellent service. Grateful to have played a small part in creating such a wonderful experience."